Isaiah 23,15-18 has often been regarded as part of a Josianic redaction, aligning
the temporal parameters of Isaiah’s oracle against Tyre with Josiah’s reign.
Previous investigations into this passage, however, have relied on matters of strict
chronology to establish this Josianic connection. The Josianic character of the
passage is more readily evident through its invocation of an important cuneiform
document from the reign of Esarhaddon, corresponding with other Josianicera
literary works strongly influenced by Assyrian rhetoric. Tyre’s “70 Years”
deploys language once reserved for the Mesopotamian deity Marduk, contributing
to the way in which a Judean audience in the 7th century should conceive of their
own deity YHWH.

Tyreâ€™s â€œ70 Yearsâ€ in Isaiah 23,15-18 417
SUMMARY
Isaiah 23,15-18 has often been regarded as part of a Josianic redaction, aligning
the temporal parameters of Isaiahâ€™s oracle against Tyre with Josiahâ€™s reign.
Previous investigations into this passage, however, have relied on matters of strict
chronology to establish this Josianic connection. The Josianic character of the
passage is more readily evident through its invocation of an important cuneiform
document from the reign of Esarhaddon, corresponding with other Josianic-
era literary works strongly influenced by Assyrian rhetoric. Tyreâ€™s â€œ70 Yearsâ€
deploys language once reserved for the Mesopotamian deity Marduk, contributing
to the way in which a Judean audience in the 7th century should conceive of their
own deity YHWH.